---
layout: default
title: PIVlab - open source particle image velocimetry
---
<h2>What is PIVlab?</h2>
<p>
    PIVlab is a free and open-source particle image velocimetry (PIV) software and is currently
    the most frequently cited PIV tool on the market. Available as stand-alone app or Matlab toolbox. It can be used to calculate the velocity distribution within imported (or captured) images. It can also control
    <a href="https://optolution.com/en/products/particle-image-velocimetry-piv/" target="_blank">OPTOLUTION's lasers, cameras and synchronizers</a>, and derive, display and export multiple parameters of the flow pattern. The simple graphical user interface makes
    PIV data acquisition and data post-processing fast and efficient.
</p>
<h2>Why use PIVlab?</h2>
<h3>Simple</h3>
<p>Due to the graphical interface, PIV analyses are very simple:</p>
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bmeR8vdpZF8?si=ssEaTrzeRqci1q-r" style=" width: 100%; height: 360px" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<hr style="height:2px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray">
<h3>Quality</h3>    
<p>PIVlab uses state of the art algorithms for cross-correlation and optical flow:</p>
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jDBMIuQ9fsw?si=gOhLKxwk5xYpM4h2" style=" width: 100%; height: 360px" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<hr style="height:2px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray">
<h3>Trusted</h3>    
<p>Thousands of researchers trust the results of PIVlab:</p>
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Shrediquette/PIVlab/refs/heads/main/images/pivlab_citations_2005-2023.jpg" style="width:100%;">
Based on a <a href="https://pivlab.blogspot.com/2022/06/pivlab-is-becoming-super-popular.html">customized Google scholar search</a>
<hr style="height:2px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray">
<h2>Get PIVlab</h2>
<ul>
    <li><a href="https://github.com/Shrediquette/PIVlab/releases/latest/download/PIVlab_installer.exe" target="_blank">as a free stand-alone program for Windows computers</a> (all features, no requirements)</li>
    <li><a href="https://github.com/Shrediquette/PIVlab/releases/latest/download/PIVlab.mltbx" target="_blank">as a free toolbox inside Matlab for every operating system</a> (all features, Matlab required)</li>
    <li><a href="https://matlab.mathworks.com/open/fileexchange/v1?id=27659" target="_blank">as a free web browser-based app by using Matlab online</a> (no hardware interaction, free Mathworks account required)</li>
</ul>


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